Qatar Sprint Race and Main Event Qualifying: Live Coverage
Preamble
Our correspondent is arriving soon to guide you through this day's sprint race (14:00 GMT) and grid-setting session (6pm).
Live Feed
Starting Lap Period
The starting lap has begun.
Track Information
There are nineteen laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, the commentator reminds us.
Countdown
The last moments is underway.
Driver Situation
One point in Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to interfere with Red Bull's lead driver.
Media Conversations
Sky's internal discussion currently: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.
The analyst is looking forward to the 2026 season, interviewing Adrian Newey about his stepping up to the team team principal.
Starting Positions
There are only 16 cars on the grid. This followed another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: after coming 20th and last in Las Vegas, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the grand prix, he failed to advance of Q1 once more on Friday. The team have consequently made changes to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.
The team's Lance Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Franco Colapinto are all starting from the same position.
Racer Statements
"We take the experience for the next day," says Hadjar, 11th on the grid. There will be plenty of learning.
Team Standings
The focus isn't solely on the drivers' title: McLaren have run away with the constructors' gong but Mercedes, with a forty-point advantage over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position this weekend. Russell can assist in this goal from second place, and Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.
Past Performance
Piastri won that day – as he managed the previous season, as well. The driver from McLaren is going for a third consecutive win.
Short Race Importance
Right, approximately twenty minutes to go till the sprint race gets under way. Barring disaster, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of significant in its itself, with just eight championship points awarded to the winner. Mind you, second place here was enough for the driver to become champion in a prior season.
Max Verstappen claimed F1 world title following his teammate's accident of the short race.
